1 (16 oz.) pkg. pork sausage meat
1 (8 oz.) loaf Italian or French bread
3 c. milk
8 lg. eggs
1 (8 oz.) pkg. Swiss or American cheese, sliced

About 50 minutes before serving, in 10 inch skillet over medium high heat, cook sausage until well browned, stirring frequently. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice bread into 1/2 inch thick diagonal slices. Line bottom of nonstick or greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish with bread, overlapping slices if necessary. With slotted spoon, spoon cooked sausage on top of bread in baking dish, reserving 1/2 cup sausage to use for garnish. In bowl, with wire whisk or fork beat milk and eggs until well mixed. Pour egg mixture over sausage and bread. Top with Swiss cheese. With pancake turner, press bread down so it absorbs egg mixture. Sprinkle reserved sausage over top of casserole. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Makes 8 servings.

Each serving: about 420 calories, 25 grams fat, 274 milligrams cholesterol, 715 milligrams sodium.

Or, to do ahead, the night before, prepare casserole as above, but do not bake; cover and refrigerate unbaked casserole. About 50 minutes before serving, preheat oven and bake about 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.